At Flatiron Books, Cat Kenney has been promoted to publicist.
Distribution: S&S to Distribute TKO
Starting February 1, comics and graphic novel publisher TKO Studios will be distributed by Simon & Schuster. S&S will manage trade book sales and retail distribution for the publisher worldwide.
Bloomsbury Increases Full-Year Guidance
Bloomsbury released a brief trading update ahead of the end of their fiscal year on February 28. The company said “revenue is expected to be comfortably ahead and profit materially ahead of market expectations.” (Analysts’ expectations were £197.1 million in revenue and £20.1 million in profit before taxes and highlighted items.) Both adult and children’s trade publishing were “strong.” They expect further growth from the £17.3 million acquisition of ABC-CLIO, which was completed in December.
Publishing Graduate Students Work on Distribution Issues
Graduate students at Portland State University are working to address distribution problems in the publishing industry, in partnership with the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and PubWest. Students will lead research projects into decreasing returns; making book printing truly carbon neutral; increasing use of POD as a preferred means of printing; addressing shortcomings in the supply chain that were exacerbated by the pandemic, and more. IBPA and PubWest will present the findings to the book trade after the projects are completed in March.
Obituary: G.M. Ford
Mystery novelist G.M. Ford died on December 1, 2021 in San Diego. In 1995 he published his debut Who in Hell is Wanda Fuca?, featuring Seattle private investigator Leo Waterman, which was a finalist for the Anthony and Shamus awards and went on to be a 12-book series. He is also the author of the Frank Corso mysteries and a number of standalone novels.
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Whitney Frick has been promoted to vp and editor in chief of the Dial Press. Molly Turpin has been promoted to senior editor, Random House imprint. Kaeli Subberwal has been promoted to assistant editor, Random House imprint. Noa Shapiro has been promoted to assistant editor, Random House imprint.